Highland Defiance - By Sky Purington Page 0,24

over her with that same sad, confused look on his face. His grip only tightened enough to hold her in place. No more, no less. Eventually Mildred stopped trying to flail and looked up into his face.

As if he was waiting for her to calm he said, “Mildred, do you believe in Fate… in Destiny?”

“No I don’t. I believe a person controls their own fate. Nobody else controls it.”

He pulled her closer. “Would you believe me if I told you that you were wrong?”

Mildred found herself nodding and then shaking her head, mesmerized by his intense gaze. “I think you’d tell me just about anything to keep me calm right now.”

His eyes searched hers, his lips hinted at a smile. “And would that be so terrible?”

Caught in the rich, enticing depths of his eyes she said, “No.” Then the nagging feeling that she was being led astray by ‘everything Adlin’ resurfaced and she said, “Yes!”

Lord, he smelled good. Like spice and outdoors and something else.

He moved her back against the stall, shaking his head the whole time. “There is such a being as Fate. There is such a thing as Destiny.” His head lowered until their lips were within inches. “I never stopped thinking about you, Mildred. And now you’re back.” His lips came so close that the corner of his met the corner of hers. “Are you here for me?”

The touch of the corner of his lip made her suck in air. She should try to pull away, something. But the warmth of his breath, the protection, the pure need, made her turn her lips to his, to seek them.

When their lips came together it was as though they’d never been apart… as though their lips were made to fit together. She felt as though she was kissing a man for the first time. Both startled and intrigued she brought her hands to his shoulders. His skin was hard and on fire.

As his lips tilted over hers, her fingers curled, nails digging. Muscled, smooth, knowing, his tongue swung into her mouth. Eager, she met and swirled…relished. He tasted as good as he looked, delicious. Hungry, she stood on tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t fight him when he wedged her thighs apart and pushed against her, his arousal thick and wanting against her innocent but eager core.

“Guess he lucked out.”

Startled, she froze.

Adlin made a gesture with his hand and deepened the kiss. Caught off guard, Mildred pulled back and frowned. Nothing had changed. She could still hear men talking right outside their stall.

“They can’t hear us,” Adlin said. Yet he didn’t pursue the kiss, almost as if he were afraid.

Bereft, absent almost, Mildred felt cool air rush between them.

“I don’t believe you,” she whispered.

Then she felt it, a slight electrical charge in the wall at her back. Pushing away, she fell conveniently against Adlin. His arms came around her, his chin rested on her head. Mildred’s eyes widened as she watched the stall illuminate in pale blue then fade.

“Bonnie lass,” another man responded. “I’d take her for a ride, I would.”

Mildred stilled in fear. Adlin held her face against his chest and stroked her hair. The gesture was comforting and she relaxed against him. She knew what was happening around them didn’t feel right… still.

This was Adlin.

He was safe.

As if to test her resolve the air started to crackle around her.

“Time for you to go,” Adlin said abruptly.

Before she knew it, Mildred was standing in the hay-lined stall between doors. The men who walked by them turned and smiled then continued on their way as if they didn’t remember walking through the barn. She shook her head and turned back only to find it empty.

Panicked, she stuck her head into the stall and looked around, “Adlin, they’re gone. Please, where are you?” Mildred paused, waited, and then began to shake. “You didn’t leave. That much magic is too much for me.”

No response.

Mildred entered, heart thumping.

But there was nothing.

Nobody.

As if Adlin had never been there.

She leaned against the stall wall and licked her lips, still tasted him. Mildred closed her eyes and hung her head. Was he still here somewhere or would it be several years before they saw one another again? What sort of bitter time warp had she been thrust into? Because it was terribly cruel.

Now her heart was invested.

Because of a mere kiss.

Chapter Five

Adlin stalked through the forest, frustrated and aroused. How had he lived this long and not felt this way for